Career Description

Students in the Conservation Officer Preparation, AAS Program learn skills that lead to a conservation officer profession. To become a conservation officer, the Skills Certificate is required in addition to this program. Conservation officers work with fish and wildlife agencies, state parks, trails, forests, waters and wetlands, as well as work in educational activities within and throughout Minnesota. Conservation officers often work from 4×4 patrol vehicles, snowmobiles, ATV, and various watercrafts. The selection process for being a conservation officer in Minnesota includes a written exam, division interview, background investigation, functional capacity exam, psychological assessment and a medical evaluation. In addition, conservation officers must be a United States Citizen, possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license, have no felony convictions, have the ability to swim and possess a license or be eligible for licensing as a Minnesota peace officer at the time of hire.

Program Information

Get a hands-on learning experience outside of the classroom walls with weekly fieldwork in the woods. This two-year program has prepared many successful conservation officers who work throughout the Midwest and inside the federal government. A fleet of new state-of-the-art squad cars gives students a driver’s seat view into becoming a MN peace officer. Because of a close partnership between area peace officers and the college, students have a wide selection of choices for internships. When combining a Conservation Officer Preparation, A.A.S Degree and the Skills Certificate, you can serve as a conservation officer or hold nearly any other peace officer licensed position.

Program Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate field identification of regionally important mammals, birds and fish and their communities;
• Use a broad range of technological tools to research, document, map, measure, record and analyze data relevant to natural resources;
• Navigate and safely function in an outdoor workplace;
• Demonstrate knowledge of structure, process and relationships between peace officers, the courts and correctional systems;
• Process crime scenes from preliminary stage through disposition;
• Recognize diversity and cultural differences as a mature, ethical, compassionate, and adaptable citizen while meeting the needs of clients and communities;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the roles of the legislative, judicial and executive branches and how they relate to criminal law;
• Demonstrate strong communication skills–both oral and written.  Understand leadership challenges and contributions in diverse communities that have experienced racial oppression as it intersects with gender, class, sexuality, disability, and other social identities; and
• Prepare as public servants with the fundamental duty to serve and protect the community from harm and respect the constitutional rights of all citizens.

Special Program Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must meet the following conditions in order to graduate:

• College Cumulative GPA Requirement: cumulative grade point average (GPA) of credits attempted and completed at CLC must be at least 2.0;
• College Technical Core GPA Requirement: cumulative GPA of credits attempted and completed towards the technical core of the diploma or degree must be at least 2.0;
• Residency Requirement: students must complete 25% of their credits at Central Lakes College;
• Courses required for Minnesota P.O.S.T. licensing must be completed within three (3) years of starting the certificate;
• Students must have a valid Emergency Medical Responder certification (or higher) at the time of the Post Board Exam.

Admissions

• Students must complete and pass a background check prior to being officially admitted into the program. This background check must be completed prior to the first day of classes.
• Students must also complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) with a psychologist approved by the Program Coordinator prior to admission into the program.
• Student must be able to complete the skills portion of the program to become licensed. This involves several real-life crime scene situations, firearms and physical proficiency, and law enforcement procedural practices.

Please see the Criminal Justice Coordinator for further information.

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